SECRETARY'S REPORT. 277 



at the north arc admirable reservoirs for water, while the river 

 carries off what is superfluous. 



The size of farms in the province of Milan, which is a part 

 of Lombardy, varies from three to five hundred acres. Tiiey 

 are usually let on leases from nine to twelve years. On many 

 of these farms the culture of rice is carried on to considerable 

 extent, but coiTfined mainly to the stiff soils. It is estimated 

 that about a tenth part is kept down to permanent meadow, and 

 about half of this is cultivated as winter meadow. 



Spring water, on account of its warmth, is esteemed best for 

 winter meadows. Where rice is cultivated, a nine years' rota- 

 tion is commonly followed. First comes wheat, with red clover, 

 which gives a rich pasturage in autumn. Then manure is 

 applied the next year, and white or Dutch clover comes in 

 spontaneously during the third and fourth years, and manure 

 is applied both years. In the fifth year, Indian corn and flax 

 occupy the ground. In the sixth year, also Indian corn, well 

 manured. In the seventh, eighth and ninth years, rice is sown, 

 the two last with manure. An acre will yield on an average 

 from twenty to twenty-four bushels of wheat, or from fifty to 

 seventy-five bushels of Indian corn. 



Mulberries are seen growing in perfection, both in the per- 

 manent meadows and others, and thrive in irrigated lands. 

 The hay taken from the meadows is used to feed working cattle 

 and cows. The income of a cow is reckoned at from fifty-five 

 to sixty dollars, not in the vicinity of Milan or near large cities 

 alone, but generally over the district. The milk is used in 

 making the celebrated Parmesan cheese, which is largely 

 exported. Some butter is made. 



The general rent of farms in the Milanese territory is ten or 

 fifteen dollars a year per acre. The fertilizing power of water 

 is very great, and farms capable of being irrigated rent far 

 higher than those which have not this advantage. So much 

 for Devincenzi. 



As for the rest, it was easy to see that those lands which 

 were so situated as not to be capable of irrigation, were no 

 more fertile or productive than the same class of lands with us. 

 As we stood upon the rising grounds, where the bloody battle 

 of Solferino was fought, we could see many acres of dry and 

 sterile fields, and look olf over Mantua, the birthplace of Yirgil. 



